Palliative Care

Palliative care is a medical subspecialty for people living with a serious illness that focuses on the management of pain and other symptoms, support of caregiver needs and coordination of care. Palliative care is appropriate at any stage of a serious illness. Because traditional medical providers often don’t have the time to sit with the patient and talk about their health goals, palliative care can help close the gaps. Our Palliative Care specialists work alongside traditional practices — like primary care doctors, oncologists, cardiologists, pulmonologists, etc., as a team.

Palliative care is often confused with hospice. While both palliative care and hospice focus on improving the quality of life if you have a life-limiting illness, there are differences. Hospice care focuses on ensuring comfort if you are approaching the end of life and usually have a prognosis of six months or less.

But palliative care provides supportive medical care if you have a serious, chronic disease while still allowing you to pursue aggressive treatment to cure those diseases.  You can continue all of your treatment plans, medications or doctors’ appointments in order to obtain palliative care services.

Our Palliative Care team can help you manage distressing symptoms like pain or shortness of breath. We will also help you and your family identify what is important for you and communicate your goals with your healthcare team. We work with you and your family to improve symptom control, maximize function and maintain quality of life.

We closely monitor your health and progress, while continually updating and communicating with your physician about your health and if needed, modify your treatment plan. You may be seen in the office or home setting, depending on your individual circumstances.

We aim to help patients and families clarify goals of care, encourage advanced care planning and help put resources in place to keep patients comfortable for as long as possible.